Explore Plants
Indian plants documented for the way people actually garden — filter by what you want the plant to do, the space you have, the month you can sow and the region you are in. The result count below is live.
Use the filters on the plant archive to narrow by goal, growing space and season. Every record carries a Hindi name, a botanical name, a care note and the months in which to sow.
25 plants match your filters Answer three questions on the home page — your region, your space and your goal — and we will name two plants to sow this month.Filters3 on
HennaमेहंदीLawsonia inermisThe mehndi hedge of the dry west — scented flowers and dye leaves.TecomaतेकोमाTecoma stansYellow bells almost all year on a shrub that survives a forgotten terrace.LotusकमलNelumbo nuciferaThe national flower — a big tub, full sun and patience is all it takes.Crown Flowerसफेद आकCalotropis proceraThe desert milkweed, smaller than gigantea and even tougher.Lantana NativeराईमुनियाLantana camaraA relentless nectar plant — and an invasive that must be kept in a pot.Portulacaकुल्फा फूलPortulaca grandifloraOpens in full sun on a terrace where nothing else will survive noon.Cockscombलाल मुर्गाCelosia argenteaVelvet crested heads that hold colour for weeks, in sun or half shade.Zinniaजिन्नियाZinnia elegansThe most reliable cut flower for an Indian summer terrace.SunflowerसूरजमुखीHelianthus annuusA fortnight of spectacle and then a head of seed the birds will take.Raat ki Raniरात की रानीCestrum nocturnumGreen by day and overpowering by night; plant it away from a bedroom window.KanerकनेरNerium oleanderFlowers through the hottest months on almost no water. Every part is poisonous.
DrumstickसहजनMoringa oleiferaThe fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, edible leaves and pods.
Pumpkinकद्दूCucurbita moschataSprawls generously and stores well; the leaves and flowers are food too.Cluster Beansग्वार फलीCyamopsis tetragonolobaDrought-hardy bean of the west — fixes nitrogen and crops where little else will.CowpeaलोबियाVigna unguiculataPods, beans and green manure from one undemanding monsoon plant.Green GramमूंगVigna radiataSixty days from sowing to dal, and sproutable on a kitchen shelf.
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